Letter – William Wilson to James Standsfield – 11 Apr 1681

      Wanlockhead 11TH Aprill 1681

Right Honnorable,

I have written severall tymes to your Hon But <nov..l> hes gott so much as ane lyne agane And now I ane forsed to geve yor Ho. notis that effter thes wiche that all the workemene protestes that they will worke no more till they <si..> your Ho. Selfe to make ane Estableshment wth theme for the insewing yeare, for the tyme comes one that they may provyd for there <Clding> and fewall for the nixt wenter for ther is severall of the mene that workes at thes place that leves at ane destance of, that <wuld> come to that place and make up their howsses that they <…  theyve noie> ther work that does nott know what to doe unlesse they speick wth your Ho. Selfe to thes purposes  And thes wuld be done in tyme for if they do nott settell wt thes <Field> they will settell wth some other Laboure but I heve keped them even of for yr Ho. Outcomeing But cane nott put them eney longer of – nor thos wich <.> Therfor I desyre Advice to thes purposse if your Ho. Be nott hair thos wich to come for if ther be nott more <mene [or] mone[y]> for thes worke all that is hair is not worth the attendince And the tyme is coming one in next And tho is severall work <Holles> to be provided for the <encairing> of the work  And the tyme spende dayly both for the new trayell of the Stankmoss and the Leed dressing for owr nightbowres hes put all the men to dreisse ther oare and will be preffered to the Carieres ferst and who ever the Cairieres takes one with first their they will contenue with for all the yeir. Therfor Lett your Ho. Be pleased to consider thes in tyme And come out als shwne as possible for if it be nott tymlie I will be forsed to leet the workmene come to your Ho. They will nott be stoped for me Your Ho. May giv the Inclosed warning wee heve goott from the <Garall> for to Fleat and remove frome the Growndes wee have gott ane good paice of timber  to the workes home and hes maid usse of ane good daill of it and I shall have some more of it shortlie hair. I hope befor thes be all spent we should be looking for more the mene is in great destresse with secknes that falls to theme at thes tyme of the yeare and wantes money to geett themeselfes helped with <Stoyiek> and fresh meettes they are compleaning daylyupon me  And I can nott helpe theme with ane pennie and <Cutteraleres> is upon me dayly for hes money if your Ho. come nott hair <the meine> come to your Ho. Both for hime and the rest of the Countrie that I ame owing to for it is nott possible mene cane work and leve upon nothing. I cane nott be wittnes to the lyke. I will nott geve eney acompt of the conditione that the workes stands into tell your Ho. Come and give them for your great <Teroffties> lest all thinge go bad they will take tyme to repair everie thing as it wald be. the bearer James Hunter will tell your Ho. What paines I have bene at for the timber wee heve goott I <creve> pardon for complaining for otheres but your Ho. May guesse what I meane my selfe in thes barbarouse part sence I came to it . I will ad no mor at present  But I ame

Your Ho.s most Humble sirvant 

Willm Wilson



[On reverse:]  For Sr James Standsfeild, knight, to be found at hes Ludging within the heed of Blackfrares wind in Ede/ Thes wt Cair in hest]



[annotated in a different hand:] Apll 21 (81)

Thos Snowball/ John Benny  stake mostr/ Wm Wakeley stake mostr/ George Watt/ Wm Mackall/ Ja Robsen/ Geo. Robson/ Wm Craige/ John Maffost stake most/ George Wilson/ John Johnson stake most/ John Wilson



From 8br to feb.ry he was about 6/w at the worke



[Notes on reverse also in a different hand and pen to Wilson:]

Best labourers

Ja Robson [underlined]/ Jo Johnson John affott Jno Berry Wm Wakeley  for stake moss



To secure the shaft & Leavell the Roofe of Belton graine wch 2 men may doe with the Bankere in a day or w: & to work none their except it be when the now occation of worke else where & to see nothing bee wrong in the Levell to go downe <onw> a weeke. This to continue till all the oare bee carried of the Hil as can bee transported this sumer



20 doz spars                    £28      John Robson &

Panroofe & other timber          16      James

Do ore <clerke> & house & banks   5

Wester house great Timber        14

Eight jests                       8

<nobs> for the house              2

Lintalls & roe<.>                 2

Hecks & rungs for the Manger      2

For Trees to the Manger           2

Timber for the grove              3

                                 82



For <hes> charged 8 scoors at 6<£> & <bol.ds> 7<d> a day for a man to each horse Lode is 80 score 7<.> & the workmen were alreaidy Imployed about the building of the horse stable & storrhouse